IT WAS another exciting performance from National Basketball League (NBL) Next Star Karim Lopez over the weekend, playing an important role as the New Zealand Breakers defeated the Cairns Taipans by six points.

Lopez has been putting together another strong campaign as a Next Star, and has been a valued member of the Breakers’ starting lineup. He is averaging 10.3 points, 6.2 rebounds and 1.9 assists on an impressive 49 per cent shooting from the field, and has certainly firmed himself as a strong chance to be a lottery selection in the 2026 NBA Draft.

His Breakers faced off against the Taipans on Saturday afternoon in a high-scoring affair. New Zealand stormed out to an eight-point lead at the first change, and despite a strong finish from the Taipans at Cairns Convention Centre, the Breakers were able to fend off the home side and claim a six-point win on the road.

Once again, New Zealand’s Next Star was right amongst the action, coming up with some big plays in a thriller and once again demonstrating his ability to perform for the Breakers in what will be his final season in the NBL.

Cairns Taipans (96) def. by New Zealand Breakers (102)

Karim Lopez – 15 points, three rebounds, one assist, one steal, one block

Lopez came into his second season in the NBL as one of the best prospects in the 2026 class, and still looms as a potential lottery selection in what is one of the most stacked crops of talent in the century, and the Breaker delivered another solid outing.

He had the first score of the game with a nice driving layup, before backing it up a couple of minutes later with another slashing finish at the cup. He found big man Sam Mennenga with a nice dish to put the Breakers up by 12 points, before rounding out the quarter with a couple of nice plays. Lopez threw down a two-handed dunk and blocked Andrew Andrews‘ attempted floater to help lead New Zealand to a strong lead.

Lopez returned to the fold when the match was a bit tighter after the Taipans made a run, but the youngster knocked down a timely three-pointer to push the margin back out to four points in a telling play. He stole the ball from Admiral Schofield, which resulted in a wide open dunk to Mennenga in another strong finish to the term.

The young gun started the second half on the bench, but was able to make an impact when injected into the game with his third layup of the game to stretch New Zealand’s buffer out further. However, his time on the floor was limited in the third frame, but the Breakers were able to still lead by 11 points at the final change.

It was Deja vu to start the fourth period, with Lopez opening his account for the fourth quarter with another driving layup to push the margin back out to double-digits. With the Taipans making a strong push late, he nailed a pair of clutch free throws to give the Breakers some breathing space as New Zealand held on for a road win.

Lopez finished the match with 15 points on 7/10 shooting from the field to go with three boards, an assist, a steal and a block in another well-rounded performance from the youngster, who is putting together quite the resume.